On July 20, the government announced that graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions would be able to apply for and be granted a post-study work PSW visa outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19. Of course, they would need to have met all the requirements bar the one requiring them to be in Australia to apply for that visa.
PSW visa allows international students who have completed specific Australian courses; two years live and work in Australia without any restrictions.
One of the main criteria for these visas is that applicants must have completed their studies within six months from lodging the visa applications. With the current travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the students who would have completed their studies just before visiting home, or were able to complete their courses online, were not able to return to Australia on time and lodge the visa application within the six months window.
In July, those graduates were promised that they would be allowed to lodge their applications for PSW visa while offshore. To date, these changes have not been implemented, and that is causing many Australian international graduates, anxiety about their future, having invested a lot of time and money to complete studies in Australia.
It is hoped that the government sticks to its word and legislate immediately to affect that promised change. If you a former student affected by the above or for information on Post-Graduate visas or any other type of visa, please contact us, and one of our experienced team members will be in touch with you the soonest.